Editorial:
Brotherhood Among Muslims
by Dr. Aftab A. Aftab
Islamic Herald Advisor
Imagine yourself in the plain of Hudaibya at the time when the Hudaibya
peace treaty was being signed. Urwa bin Masoud was still a non-believer
representing the kufar of Makkah. After visiting the Prophet (SAW) and
his companions, he reported back to the kufar of Makkah concerning his
visit. He was extremely impressed and taken aback when he saw the
ultimate love, honor, and respect that the companions expressed to their
beloved Prophet (SAW). He told the kufar of Makkah that he had visited
all the major world courts and had seen the emperors and kings of his
time, and observed that no one commanded even a fraction of the degree of
love, respect and discipline that the companions observed for their
beloved Prophet (SAW).
In following our beloved Prophet (SAW) and obeying Allah (SWT), we should
consider the day-to-day dealings of the companions. We should love and
respect the Prophet (SAW) as they did, and this should be reflected in
our daily lives. We should show kindness to all creatures of Allah
(SWT), and we should hasten to greet each other. The Prophet (SAW) said,
"The first person to offer salam receives ten virtues, whereas the
person responding gets only one." We should try not to hurt anyone's
feelings and to be very considerate and courteous to each other. We
should not wait until somebody walks over to us and offers his salams.
Instead, we should be the ones initiating this and embracing our fellow
Muslims in keeping with the sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). If one of our
brothers is ill, we should be concerned about him as much as we would
be concerned if we ourselves were sick.
The following are sayings of our beloved Prophet (SAW) about our dealing with
each other:
- None of you truly believes unless he wishes for his brother what he
wishes for himself.Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices one
to another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from one
another; do not undercut one another, but be you, oh servants of
Allah, brothers.
- A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he neither oppresses him nor
does he fail, he neither lies to him nor does he hold him in contempt.
Piety is right here -- and he pointed to his breast three times. It is
evil enough for a man to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. The whole
of a Muslim for another Muslim is inviolable: his blood, his property,
and his honor.
From The Islamic Herald, February 1996.
The Islamic Herald /
herald@ais.org